Refrigerator.



W. N. AMSBRY.

REFBIGBRATOR. APPLIOATI'N FILED No?. 1o, 1908.

vPatented Dec.28,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N ||||h IIIII REFEIGERATOR.

APPLIUATION mmm Nov. 1o, 190ev .944,353.' ,Patented'DeciZS 9.

' zsnBBTs-s 2. v

the water to be evaporated. In the bottom creased in any other suitable manner. In

UNrrED sTArEs PATENT oFFIoE.

WILLIAM AMSBARY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR 0F FIVE-TWELFTHS TO LYMAN D. DENNEY AND ONE-SIXTH TO WILLIAM SIMPSON, BOTH 0F DENVER,

COLORADO.`

REFRIGERATOR.

y Specification of Letters Patent. Patented D80. 28, 1909.

Application filed November 10, 1908. Serial N o. 461,940.

To all whom it may comrern.:v

Be it known'that I, WILLIAM N. AMSBARY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators; and I do declare thc following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures-of reference-marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My inventionrelates to improvements in refrigerators in which the cooling function is performed on the principle of liquid evaporation.

For the purpose 'of'facilitating the evaporation of the water within the apparatus, I make provision for increasingv the circulation of air around the refrigerator or cooling chamber. In the specific construction disclosedin this application I place within the top ofthe receptacle a tank containing of this tank is formed an escape opening controlled by la needle valve. Below this tank is a receptacle containing drinking water whose to is closed and provided .with a series of ra ially disposed metal plates connected with a central core. The top of the drinking water receptacle is perforated and slotted'to receive this device which fits closely therein. This metallic member is preferably .composed of copper since the latter possesses the quality of heat conductivi 'to av satisfactory de ee. This metal evice projects above t e top of the drinking water receptacle and is covered vby a removable housing whose lower edge 'is toothed or notched to allow the drip from the tank above to escape and spread itself over the top of the drinking water receptacle and run down the sides of the cooling chamber in a thin sheet where it is brought directly in contact with the induced current of air which passes upwardly around the cooling -chamber and thence through the housing which is, perforated for the purpose and thence into a flue which may be connected with the furnace iue of a house; or the circulation 4of air may be inthe drawing a lamp is shown having its chimney entering the lower part of the iue whereby the air is heated and its upward circulation increased.

Having briefly outlined 1n improved construction, I will proceed to escribe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through my improved apparatus on a plane parallel with the front and back thereof. This section maybeapproximately indicated by the line 1-1 on Fig. 2. Fig-2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 Fig. 1, parts being left in elevation. Fig. 3 1s a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 2 the parts, however, being shown on a la er scale. .Fig 4 is a perspective view in etail of the metallic element connected with the top of the water cooling tank shown on a larger scale than in the other views.v

The same reference characters indicate the same parts inall the views.

Between the cooling chambenand the receptacle 9 and extending on three sides of the refrigerator, namely, the back and the two opposite sides, is a space 12 for the circulation of air which enters through slots 13 formed in the lower part of the casing, and communicating with a bottom space 14 located between the bottom of the cooling chamber and the bottom 15 of the casing. This bottom 15 is slightly inclined toward the center where an opening 16 is formed tn allow the superfluous water, or that which is not evaporated, to pass into a receptacle 17 located underneath the apparatus.

The main wall 18 of the cooling chamber is provided with a thin layer or coating 19 composed of some dark substance.V Mounted on top of the'cooling chamber is the receptacle 9 for containing drinking water. Connected with the bottom ofv this receptacle is a water filter 20 which may be of any leads lthis. `filter V"tot" aneXtei'iorly exposed faucet or draw-o cock 22 mounted on one of theside walls of vthe apparatus.

",.Thevupper part or top 23 of the'receptacle' 9 isremovabl'e and in this 4topis seta metallic element 24 which is fitted closely into As shown in the drawing this device wings 26 radiate. In the upper part of this core is a cup or receptacle 27 into which the -water may drip from the tank-above as hereinafter eX lained, and overflow upon the upper sur ace of the wings 26. This metal device projects upwardly above. the top of the tank 9 and is normally covered by a housing 28 provided with an opening` 29 in the top and side openings 30 to facili! tate circulation of air. The lower edge of this housing is notched or toothed as shown at 31 to allow the water to spread out over the top of the receptacle 9 and run down upon the vertical walls thereof, and also upon the correspondin walls of the cooling chamber. Thismetalhc device dips into the water 32 inthe receptacle 9 and by virtue of its heat-conducting property, facilitates the escape of the heat from the water, or in "mated. I n the bottom, of this tank is an n escape port 35 controlled byl a needle 'valvey other words, absorbsthe heat and conducts 1t out of the receptacle and delivers it, so to speak, to the ,air which is constantly in cirp c ulation varound the receptacle and the cooling chamberand passing out through the Hue as hereinafter. more fully described.

The top as well' as the rear and side walls of thereceptacle 9may be provided with a` covering 33 ofabsorbent material'.

Directly above thereceptacle 9 is located 36 whose lower extremity is cone-shaped `as A shown at 37 to conform to the lshape ofthe port 3511--- The top 38 of this valve projects @above the .level of `the water in 'the tank Veo whereby it is always accessible for purposes of .ad]ust ment. The top of this tank is providedwith an opening 39 normally closedy by a cover 40. The top 41 of the refrigerator 1s hinged as shown at 42.

Located outside of theupper portlon of the refrigerator and projecting upwardly at the back thereof, lis a flue 43 having a branch 44. which enters the refrigerator and com-v` municates with the housing 28. This iiue has a short bottom extension 45ghaving an `penmg to receive the chimney t6 of a lamp The heat from this lamp being 'directed into the flue, produces `an upward draftof air andincreases the circulation of the4 air around the cooling chamber and the tank 9 within the refrigerator.

Whenthe apparatus 1s in use,'fthe needlev valve which is threaded l.into a support 48,

.ist adjusted tol allowy :to @drip y from the tank "'10 through. the"A port 35. This water passes through the opening 29 in the housing'v 28 and V'thence falls `into the cup 27 ofthe metal device 24:'froin which it overows uponthe wings 26^a`nd-"spreads out over the top of the .receptacle 9 and flows downwardly upon the back andA side walls of the said receptacle and the corresponding walls of the cooling chamber, in a thin sheet where it is brought in contact with the rapidly upwardly directed air current, resultlng 1n a maximum degree of `evaporation and consequently producing'the bestrefrigerating or cooling result. n y y, Having thus described my inventiongvhat Iclaimis: 1.. A refrigerator comprising a casing. a

'cooling chamber' therein and separated therefronilby an air'j space, a water-containing receptacle mountedinthe casing, a inctallic element ttedinto an opening formed in said receptacle and protruding above ,the same, and means located withinQt-he casing for delivering water to the said metallic element, whereby it is allowed to pass down'- wardly' therefrom to the wall offthe 'cooling chamber. ff 2. A refrigerator' comprisinga casing, a

cooling chamber therein separated therefrom by an a'ir space, a water-containing receptacle mounted 'in the casing, a metallic [element fitted into an openingformed'in theto"y of the saidlreceptacle [and protruding "La ove the same, a water-containing ta'nlimounted above the said receptacle and providedwith a valvecontrolled opening tojla'llow lthe water to drip downwardlyy upon thefsaid metallic clement andpass therefrom tothe exterior wall of the cooling-chamber. u

3.*A`re'frigeratorcomprlsin' .a casing, a cooling chamber located therein and separated therefrom byfanj air zspace,"a waterco'ntaining tank mounted on top ofthe coolingpchamber, a metallicv element fitted into an"- opening formed fin the'top o'f the 'said tank, and protruding ,above the saine, the said element being provided withanumber of wings or. plates to form a relativelyv large surface, a. second water-containing l tank mounted above the first named tank and provided with a valve controlled,l openlng to allow the water to Vdrip downwardlyi upon the said metallic element and pass'therefrom to the, exterior wall ofthe cooling chamber,

, substantially as described.

4; A refrigerator comprising'alJ casing, a

y' cooling chambertherein separated therefrom by an air space, a waterfcontaining' receptacle mounted y1n th'ecaslng aboveth/e cooling chamber, a vmetallic elementproiccting into the said receptacle andv protruding' therefrom, the receptacle being closed aroun wthe said element, vand a wateicontaining tank mounted above the receptaclean'd'provided with' a valve controlled openingto allow the water to drip downwardly upon the said metallic element.

5. A refrigerator comprising an outer casing, a cooling chamber located within the casing and separated therefrom by an air space, means for producing a forced current of air through the said air space, awater receptacle located above the coolin chamber, a metallic element protruding into the said water receptacle and projecting above the top of the same, the said element being closely fitted into a suitable 4opening formed in the top of the receptacle, an apertured housing covering the protruding portion of the said metallic element, a water containing tank located above the water receptacle and provided with a bot-tom port in communication with an opening formed in the top of the said housing, whereby the water is allowed to drip from the tank downwardly upon the metallic element and distribute itself over t-he outer surfaceof the water receptacle and cooling chamber, substantially as described.

6. A refrigerator comprising an outer casing, a cooling chamber located withinthe said casing but separated therefrom by an air space to allow the circulation of air around the cooling chamber, a flue in communication with the upper portion of the said air space, means for producing a forced current of air through the said air spaces and flue, 4 a water receptacle located above the cooling chamber, a metallic element projecting into the water containing receptacle I and protruding from t-he top thereof, a housing covering .said element and provided with openings to allow the air to circulate therethrough, a water-containing tank located above the receptacle and provided with a valve controlled port to,I allow the water to drip downwardly upon the said metallic element, the housing being provided with an opening for the purpose, substantially as described. y

7. A refri erator comprising` an exterior casing, a coo ing chamber, a drinking water receptacle located above the said chamber, a metallic element including a series of plates projecting into the said receptacle and protruding therefrom, a housing' resting upon the top of said receptacle and covering the said element, the lower edge\of the said housing being toothed and its upper portion being apertured to allow the air to circulate, and means for discharging water in limited quantities upon the protruding portion of the said metallic element, substantially as described.

8. A refrigerator including an outer casing, a cooling chamber located therein and separated therefrom by an air space, awater containing receptacle mounted in the casing adjacent to the cooling chamber and a metallic element projecting into said receptacle and protruding therefrom, the wall of the receptacle being closed around the said element, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofy I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM N. AMSBARY. t

lVitnes'ses:

LOUISE COSNER,

A. EBERT OBRIEN. 

